Some time ago, at the behest of a friend, I purchased a Micronta Biofeedback Monitor from a local RadioShack(part No. 630-0664). To be perfectly honest, I forgot how much the thing cost but suffice it to say, it was extremely affordable in Post-Reaganomics US dollars. 
It purported to aid in stress reduction with regular usage. The “feedback” was an oscillating sine wave which reacted to GSR and the idea was to “make” the sine wave frequency lower by “relaxing” whatever autonomic functions under my locus of control by regulated breathing and thinking happy thoughts, etc. Of course, if I had a Wii to plug the sucker into then, I would have…But sadly, I was only able to fashion a controlled voltage adapter cable from the Micronta’s headphone output which I hooked into a Roland Juno-6’s arpeggiator tempo control.
The resulting aural output was only slightly less distressing than the built in sine wave generator. It did react to tensing of myofascial musculature and heavy forced breathing. I wonder if the NeuroSky device will come with a GSR attachment? I do love the notion of retro-health technology with it’s beta/theta wave biofeedback tracking…Even the prototype usage is Star Wars episode IV. Bet it’ll cost more than the Micronta.
excerpted from an article
By RACHEL KONRAD, AP Technology Writer
Mon Apr 30, 7:48 AM ET:
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A convincing twin of Darth Vader stalks the beige cubicles of a Silicon Valley office, complete with ominous black mask, cape and light saber. But this is no chintzy Halloween costume. It’s a prototype, years in the making, of a toy that incorporates brain wave-reading technology.
Behind the mask is a sensor that touches the user’s forehead and reads the brain’s electrical signals, then sends them to a wireless receiver inside the saber, which lights up when the user is concentrating. The player maintains focus by channeling thoughts on any fixed mental image, or thinking specifically about keeping the light sword on. When the mind wanders, the wand goes dark.
Engineers at NeuroSky Inc. have big plans for brain wave-reading toys and video games. They say the simple Darth Vader game — a relatively crude biofeedback device cloaked in gimmicky garb — portends the coming of more sophisticated devices that could revolutionize the way people play.
via Gizmonistas! YesterTech
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